The Kind Dog Groomer

09/09/2025

Closed until 30th September
I won’t be available to answer calls or return appointment requests during this time. Please pop me a message after 30th September 🏝️ ☀️

25/08/2025

6 Appointments left for October
12 Appointments left for December

22/08/2025

It might seem like a superficial detail: the quality of a dog’s coat, patches of hair loss, or changes in regrowth after clipping. The skin is the largest organ of the body and is tightly linked to the nervous and endocrine systems. When a dog is in chronic pain or under prolonged stress, there are measurable changes in hormone levels especially cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone.

Elevated or dysregulated cortisol can interfere with:
Skin barrier function
Follicle health
Hair growth cycles

In simple terms, a stressed or painful body may divert resources away from hair growth, either slowing it, changing its quality, or halting it altogether.

Some dogs with chronic pain (especially orthopaedic or spinal issues) will show:
Patches where hair doesn’t grow back normally after clipping or surgery
Thinner, duller, or dry coat texture.

Asymmetrical coat quality, especially over painful joints or areas of tension
Excess licking or chewing, often mistaken as purely behavioural, that causes localised hair loss

This isn’t just anecdotal. These signs may be subtle, but they can be a critical part of the diagnostic picture when we suspect low-grade or hidden pain particularly in stoic dogs who may not show obvious lameness or distress.

In people, chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, or rheumatoid arthritis are often linked with changes in skin integrity and hair follicle function.

A study by Wanner et al. (2003) demonstrated that neurogenic inflammation in chronic pain patients altered hair cycling and skin healing. Similarly, studies in chronic stress and PTSD patients show dysregulated hair growth due to cortisol imbalance and nervous system overactivation.

Palestrini et al. (2010) noted that dogs with compulsive behaviours and chronic stress had distinct differences in coat condition compared to behaviourally stable control dogs.

If a dog’s coat isn’t growing back as expected or if you notice unusual changes in skin or hair texture it may be time to consider what else might be going on. Pain, chronic discomfort, or emotional stress should always be on the list of differentials.

Post inspired by the awesome .adoodledoo

15/08/2025

Just a reminder of dates I will be closed
I am fully booked until the beginning of October

Enjoy the sun everyone, remember to keep your dogs off tarmac and other hard driveways. No walking after 10am or before 9pm until the weather cools down a bit. Keep water bowls topped up with cold clean water

22/07/2025

Hi
Just reposting this

I AM CURRENTLY ON HOLIDAYS

I do not have any new appointments until the end of August

Enjoy your summer 😇💘🐶🐾

09/07/2025

Please only ever buy your parasite treatments at your local vet. That way the treatment is safe and correct for your dogs body weight.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ch8oVD2Tn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

An urgent warning has been issued by the government about toxic chemicals in fake flea treatments bought online in the UK .
Trading standards confirmed that the products contained toxic chemicals and that the packaging had been deliberately copied to make it look like a legitimate product.
Please take care if you buy any product online. Look out for poor quality packaging, spelling, grammatical errors or instructions not provided in English and do not use any suspicious products on your pets. Suspicious products should be reported to Trading Standards and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.